Ray-Aw, ManRayman stars in a weird NFT game vaguely inspired by the coolest Far Cry DLC that Ubisoft's just quietly plopped out, because of course he doesAlso, he's seemingly now a Die Hard baddie who makes a lot of probably very salient points about how America sucks.Image credit: Ubisoft News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Dec. 20, 2024 Ubisoft's done it again. Here's a new weird NFT game that's been released with close to zero fanfare by the publisher. This one's got Rayman in it, and is based on a thing that's inspired by Far Cry 3's fun Blood Dragon expansion, if you can believe that.As you may be aware, this isn't the first time Ubisoft's pretty much stealth-dropped a weird NFT/Web3 game this year - there was Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles in late October. The name proably doesn't mean anything to you, but you might remember it as the game that suffered from a bug which led to one or two players starring in and insta-winning every single match put on, until a ban, a fix, and then a kinda awkward unbanning.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Enter Captain Laserhawk: The G.A.M.E., a thing that was released earlier this week with barely any marketing, likely because, as Stephen Totilo of Game File reports, it features a bunch of cryptocurrency and blockchain s**t, and even requires an NFT to play.Here's where things get weird, though. This game is based on a Netflix animated series called Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, which itself draws inspiration from Far Cry: Blood Dragon, an actually good expansion for - or standalone mini-game based on, depending on your view - for Far Cry 3.You remember Blood Dragon, right? It was a cool 80s action movie-style twist on your island adventure with Vaas, and it let you play as a military cyborg called Sergeant Rex "Power" Colt voiced by Aliens and Terminator actor Michael Biehn.Anyway, based on what Totilo says, this NFT thing's nowhere near as fun as that. Instead it's reportedly an early access game that's "the most basic top-down shooter imaginable", letting PC folks do some shooty stuff while running into characters from that Neflix show and Rayman, who's guest starring it for reasons."Rayman is the glossy face of Eden's entire media system, from the Eden Report to the Eden Late Show, including any form of entertainment program," reads the Ubisoft mascot's character description on Captain Laserhawk: The G.A.M.E.'s website."In his earlier life, Rayman was a resident of a universe called Dimension X. As an immigrant to this reality, Rayman was witness to the many injustices of America and struggled to overcome rejection by everyone he met. He was happy to see America fall - and even happier that Eden gave him purpose. As he is Eden's chief propaganda officer, Rayman's friendly image is seen everywhere. Though Rayman's likeness has great influence, Rayman is simply a cog in the Eden machine."Hang on a minute, has Ubisoft transformed Rayman into a Die Hard villain that you actually want to side with by the time you're halfway through the movie? Maybe, but I'm not playing some NFT bollocks to find out.

Holiday Hell HurlDiablo 4 is free to play until the new year on everything, and you can even try out the new Spiritborn classBlizzard really wants you to be playing Diablo 4 over the holidays and into the new year.Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment. News by Sherif Saed Contributing Editor Published on Dec. 20, 2024 While the core ARPG community may be busy arguing the merits of Path of Exile 2 right now; how challenging (and sometimes downright unfair) it can be, and how much it is and isnt like Diablo, casual players likely dont care much about all that.What may turn their heads, however - at least, the way Blizzard sees it, is a chance to play Diablo 4 for free while everyone is off for the holidays.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Blizzard has once again brought back the Diablo 4 trial. This particular iteration is one of the more generous, as it lets people who dont own the game play the base campaign, and try out the new Spiritborn class (from Vessel of Hatred).The trial is available across PC (Battlenet), PlayStation, and Xbox, which is a nice change from some of the PC-limited trials of the past. The trial is available right now all the way until Friday, January 3, to cover the Christmas and New Years Eve break.Diablo 4 is also on sale up to 40% off across all platforms, giving you another reason to turn that free trial into a full purchase, should you think its worth it. All your progress will carry over, too. As a reminder, the base game of Diablo 4 is also part of Game Pass on PC and Xbox. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.

Image: Pix ArtsNintendos been involved in its fair share of legal battles over the years, but we have a feeling it might be thinking twice before taking on publisher Pix Arts over the recent release of Monkey Kong In New-York on the Nintendo Switch.Granted, Nintendo can do whatever it likes, and if it thinks theres even the slightest chance that it might win a legal case, then chances are it will send its ninjas to battle at the earliest opportunity. Whats interesting about this particular game, however, is that it reminds us of a previous legal battle fought between Nintendo and Universal back in 1983.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Ysee, back in't day, Universal wound up suing Nintendo over the latters new Donkey Kong game, alleging that it was a copyright infringement upon the characters and plot of King Kong. After a 7-day trial, the late judge Robert W. Sweet determined that Universal had no trademark in King Kong, deeming that the company itself had proven the IP to be in the public domain during a previous court case against RKO General. Furthermore, he said its unlikely that consumers would genuinely mix up King Kong and Donkey Kong.Nintendos defense lawyer at the time, the late John Kirby, was gifted a $30,000 sailboat christened Donkey Kong for his work during the case. As many of you may already know, his surname was also used as inspiration for the long-running platforming franchise Kirby.Now, if Nintendo even notices Monkey Kong in New-York on the Switch eShop (because lets face it, its a small drop in a big ocean given the amount of bilge being uploaded these days), it may have to think long and hard about whether it wants to pursue legal action against this particular game given the hassle it had to go through back in 83.The big difference here, of course, is that Nintendo does own the trademark to Donkey Kong obviously and the similarities between Donkey Kong and Monkey Kong are arguably much closer than that of King Kong. In addition, the games logo is somewhat similar to that of Donkey Kongs, but were not sure anybody would look at the generic character model for the titular character and mistake it for Nintendos famous, lovable ape.Images: Pix Arts, NintendoChances are that if Nintendo wants Monkey Kong in New-York removed from the eShop, it can probably do so with little fuss, and we sincerely doubt a case such as this would make it all the way to court. Still, its interesting to look at the similarities to the 83 case, right? 3DS emulator Citra to also shut downOn at least fifty occasions in the last two years"What do you make of this new 'Monkey Kong' game? Do you think it will remain on the eShop, or are its days numbered? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, though'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"Toby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"

Image: NintendoMonthly Splatfests are a thing of the past for Splatoon 3 these days, but Nintendo is still keeping the seasonal events coming. With Splatoween out the way, the next one to roll around is Frosty Fest, a festive celebration which will be heading to the Splatlands next month.As revealed in a tweet by @NintendoUK, the Frosty Fest Splatfest will get underway from 11th-12th January 2025 (depending on your region), with the theme this time asking 'What would make you happiest?' There are three gift-based teams to choose between, with Team Money, Experiences and Presents all vying for your support.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube But that's not all! Just as was the case last year, the upcoming festival also brings in a batch of free gear this time consisting of returning items from Splatoon 2, but who cares? They're free! To redeem your free in-game gear, just select the relevant story on the Switch News channel.Image: NintendoIt looks like voting for this one will be underway very soon, but in the meantime, why not let us know which team you'll be battling for in the following poll?Which team gets your vote for the upcoming Splatoon 3 Frosty Fest? (53 votes)Team Money30%Team Experiences51%Team Presents19% Please wrap it upWho will you side with?Which team gets your vote this time? Are you excited for the next Frost Fest? Swim down to the comments and let us know.[source x.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, thoughToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"

Image: Nintendo LifeIf a glance at most of our Nintendo Switch Year in Review stats is anything to go by, then more than a few of us have spent a good bit of time with Balatro this year. We've spent so long with it, in fact, that its iconography is pretty much burned into our minds by this point. It sure would be a shame if one joke tweet made us see the whole thing differently, huh?Well, we're sorry, but that's exactly what has happened. It all started with a tweet by @JacobJanerka, who shared that he sees the game's mascot, Jimbo, not as a clown wearing a blue ruffle collar but as a guy with a giant head wearing a blue jumpsuit it's the KFC Colonel all over againSubscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Yep, we had to see it, so we're putting you through it too. Here's the mock-up that started it all:We Nintendo Lifers had a chuckle about this when we first laid eyes on it this morning, amused by the idea that someone could possibly see it as anything other than a clown in some fancy neckwear. A reply from Balatro developer LocalThunk that simply read "Delete this" made us smugly assume that we were in the right after all, nobody else could possibly think the same thing, right?Wrong. A closer inspection of the thread reveals that the original poster was not alone in his point of view and, after a swift poll in Nintendo Life Towers, there are even some among our rank who have long seen the mascot in the same tiny-bodied way.We were agog. We were aghast. But now we're starting to wonder if we on Team Ruff are the ones in the wrong. When we saw Ben Starr take on the role in a recent 'Friends of Jimbo' trailer, he certainly opted for the collar look, but who's to say that's the 'correct' interpretation?Help us settle this, dear readers is the Balatro mascot a clown in a ruff or a dude with a giant head and tiny body? You can cast your vote in the poll below. Please, we need to know.How do you see the Balatro mascot? (191 votes)Team Ruff85%Team Tiny Body14%Other (comment below) 0.5%Ruff or tiny body? Which side are you on? Let us know in the comments. While games with real-life gambling are 3+Hello JimBen (Starr)[source x.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles'Hyperdimension Neptunia' & 'Death End' Switch Releases Scrapped For "Not Complying With Nintendo Guidelines"Death end re;Quest: Code Z still on for PS5/4, thoughToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher

What happens when a chemical engineer, whos previously built a hydrogen-powered drone, becomes a venture capitalist? Energy Revolution Ventures, thats what. The VC has now closed an $18 million Seed and Series A fund to invest in deeptech, such as energy storage, carbon capture, and, yes, hydrogen technologies.Marcus Clover, Co-Founder and Partner at ERV told TechCrunch: I studied at Cambridge, and thought I was going into oil and gas. I ended up getting hired as employee number one for an aerospace startup. We were building a hydrogen-powered drone for telecoms application.After doing that for five years he joined another firm putting hydrogen fuel cells in heavy-duty vehicles: I saw firsthand, as an engineer working this space, how much innovation was happening in the energy sector. I realized I had to get into it from the investment side. Thats when I teamed up with two of my partners.The 2023 vintage fund includes LPs from family offices in the metals and energy sector, high-net-worth individuals, and Bidra Innovation Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Moroccos OCP Group. ERV already has a portfolio of nine companies, including Green Li-ion (lithium-ion battery recycling), Anthro (structural, safe batteries), and Oort Energy (low-cost renewable H).ERV has both a fund and a venture builder, dubbed Prosemino. The idea is that the fund can both invest in independent startups as well as spin up new ventures, based on its in-house technical expertise. It draws on a network of advisors, spread across the University of Oxford and University College London. It has also built some specialist laboratories to assist its startups.We have 4,000 square feet of wet chemistry and dry lab space here in London. We believe its the only lab of its kind outside of Europe, not related to a university, said Clover.ERVs strategy is based on the idea that a lot of innovation is about to happen in chemistry, especially in the area of energy.When I was working hydrogen, back in 2015/2016, way before the latest hydrogen hype cycles, the most advanced tech was in the space sector. We were trying to repurpose it for aircraft. Doing that work teaches you a lot about how to redesign stuff from first principles and how to operate in small teams with tight budgets. So I can relate to a lot of the companies which weve now invested in, said Clover.He added that the firms thesis is not just about decarbonization, but also electrification: Its more than just electrical generation. You still need to store the power, transmit it to where its needed, and then electrify huge parts of the economy We are literally rewiring the economy, and we need huge amounts of technology to do that. We saw how software made launching space rockets cheaper and better. I believe the same thing is going to happen with energy, and thats the really exciting part of the story.TechCrunch has covered two of the investee companies in ERVs portfolio, in the past. Anthro Energy had their $7.2m seed round partly led by ERV.Divigas, also covered by TechCrunch, is also in the portfolio.He said that while some investors are focusing on decarbonization, the growth through electrification is even more exciting from a market perspective.?To date ERV Fund 1 has made nine investments, including:Blixt Developers of software-enabled power electronics. The startup has been selected to join NATOs Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) program.Ecolectro Innovators of novel polymers designed for the next generation of electrolyzers in the hydrogen industry.Immaterial Creators of cheap and durable Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) designed for carbon capture, gas separation, and purification purposes.

On the weekend, as most students were stumbling back from the bars, Songyee Yoon was rushing across her South Korean campus. Around dinner time, she would run some programs on her colleges supercomputer and then, as the computer chugged through her program, shed wait sleepless in her dorm. I woke up at like 2 am, 3 am to walk down the campus because I was so curious to see the result, she said.She was such an oddity on campus that a writer used her as inspiration for a TV show about her college.The intention was not to create characters based off of a real character, she said. But as the writer talked to students to get material, she kind of kept hearing about this weird girl.And so Yoon became the inspiration behind Genius Girl on the Korean TV show KAIST.Today, if writers were going to make a show about Yoons life, itd look more like HBOs Silicon Valley. After completing a PhD from MIT, she climbed her way to becoming president of South Korean video game developer NCSoft, and today, shes announcing Principle Venture Partners (PVP), a $100 million fund to back AI startups. The fund will write early-stage checks anywhere from $100,000 to single digit millions and has already invested in six startups, including model maker Liquid AI.Her fellow partners include a whos-who of AI academia: theres Daniela Rus, a renowned researcher that Yoon met through Yoons work on MITs board; Dawn Song, a MacArthur Fellow whos published extensively on computer security; and Jeremy Nixon, the founder of the AGI House, a AI hacker house thats made headlines for attracting young talented founders.PVP is one of the few investment firms with such a deep bench of academic powerhouses something that Yoon sees as an advantage when the firm is trying to win deals.I think founders would like to have a diversified set of advisors who can bring different perspectives, she said. Soon believes that the research backgrounds of the PVP team give them a profound understanding of how AI has evolved over time and where it might be headed.The team is betting that the next generation of unicorns will be AI-native companies, meaning they were built with AI in mind from the start, not with AI applications jerry-rigged onto the platform after the fact. Yoons not worried that they may have missed the boat on investing in foundational companies like OpenAI or Anthropic. If you look at the top 10 NASDAQ companies, more than half of them are digital native companies who started after the introduction of broadband, she said.Yoon said the firm will invest across sectors. Shes particularly excited about the potential for AI to transform the insurance industry, whether that means using AI to help people understand what their plans cover, or insurance companies that specialize in underwriting autonomous robots.Yoon is also worried about the issue of AIs potential to exacerbate cultural colonialism, a topic she wrote about last year. She gave the example of large model makers proclaiming, oh, we train this AI using all the data in the world.But if you think about it, 35% of the worlds population do not even have access to broadband, Yoon said. And they cannot be authors of the data that has been used for training this AI. So its inevitable that those kinds of cultures and viewpoints cannot be reflected.She admits its a complicated problem that can only begin to be solved through continuous conversations and increased representation through the industry like, say, an AI-focused fund with three female partners.We dont say its a female fund, but I think I see a lot of the female founders come to us because they know that well have more sympathy, Yoon said. And that we can see their real strength and real super power.

Breakdown & ShowreelsCivil War: Lincoln Memorial VFX Breakdown by FramestoreBy Vincent Frei - 20/12/2024 After showcasing their work on Washington, Framestore now unveils their visual effects expertise on the Lincoln Memorial in Civil War. Watch the new VFX Breakdown for an inside look at how they recreated this iconic landmark for the big screen!WANT TO KNOW MORE?Framestore: Dedicated page about Civil War on Framestore website.David Simpson: Heres my interview of Production VFX Supervisor David Simpson. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2024

The Forgotten Barn | Petr PolkThe Forgotten Barn is hidden behind a row of townhouses, located in a quiet courtyard in Dob, Czech Republic. This unique project exemplifies how architecture can intertwine heritage and modernity. Originally a weathered stone barn dating back to 1912, the structure was transformed into a stunning family home by Karnet Architekti.The Forgotten Barn Technical InformationArchitects1-5: Karnet ArchitektiLocation: Dob, Czech RepublicArea: 240 m2 | 2,580 Sq. Ft.Project Year: 2020 2022Photographs: Petr PolkThe new has woven itself through history, and today its difficult to determine where the inside begins and the outside ends. Karnet ArchitektiThe Forgotten Barn PhotographsAerial View | Petr PolkExterior View | Petr Polk Petr Polk Petr Polk Petr Polk Petr Polk Petr Polk Petr Polk Petr PolkArchitectural Strategy: Bridging Past and PresentThe Forgotten Barn tells a compelling story of adaptive reuse. Rather than demolishing the old barn, Karnet Architekti preserved its original stone shell, weaving a prefabricated timber structure into its fabric. This deliberate approach ensures that the spirit of the historic building endures, creating a seamless dialogue between the past and the present.The barns original features, such as its arched stone passages and ventilation openings, were retained and celebrated. By blending these elements with modern design, the architects dissolved the boundary between interior and exterior spaces, allowing history to inform every corner of the home.Preserving the structural integrity of the barns aged stone walls posed significant challenges. The design team stabilized the walls with concrete overlays and cladding, safeguarding them against further deterioration. A steel bracing structure replaced an internal vertical wall, ensuring durability without altering the barns aesthetic.The prefabricated timber frame, chosen for its lightweight and adaptability, was inserted without compromising the foundation. The innovative roof designfeaturing generous overhangs and slender raftersprotected the walls while maintaining a cohesive lookFunctional Layout and Material PaletteThe barns layout splits the plot into two gardens with distinct uses. One side offers privacy and relaxation, while the other serves practical purposes. These outdoor spaces are directly tied to the timber structures internal arrangement, ensuring harmony between the building and its surroundings.The houses main living area occupies the southern portion, framed by vaulted passages and flanked by two terraces. These terraces provide versatile spaces for enjoying morning or afternoon sunlight, eliminating the need for additional structures like pergolas. Upstairs, the bedrooms, study, and gym are bathed in natural light, thanks to strategically placed east-facing windows and glazed roof sections.Every material was chosen to enhance the relationship between the old and the new. Silicate plaster, larch wood, and oak flooring blend rustic and modern textures, while pine veneer furniture adds warmth. Biophilic elements, like natural ventilation and slender wall assemblies, ensure the home breathes naturally and efficiently.Lessons in Adaptive ReuseThe Forgotten Barn demonstrates how adaptive reuse can preserve a sense of place and memory. By stabilizing the barns historic shell and inserting a modern timber structure, the architects honored the buildings past while creating a functional, contemporary home. The result is a living space that fosters connectionsbetween family members and between generations.This project highlights the importance of thoughtful design in adaptive reuse. Preserving the barns character required innovative solutions, from prefabrication to the delicate stabilization of historic masonry. Architects can draw inspiration from The Forgotten Barns success in balancing heritage conservation with modern functionality.The project also underscores the environmental benefits of adaptive reuse by using sustainable materials and preserving the barns embodied energy. For architects, this is a reminder that sustainability often begins with preserving what already exists.The Forgotten Barn PlansGround Floor | Karnet ArchitektiFirst Floor | Karnet ArchitektiSections | Karnet ArchitektiWest Elevation | Karnet ArchitektiAxonometry | Karnet ArchitektiFacade Section | Karnet ArchitektiThe Forgotten Barn Image GalleryAbout Michael KarnetMichael Karnet, the visionary architect behind The Forgotten Barn, founded Karnet Architekti, a Czech-based architecture studio known for its innovative approach to adaptive reuse and sustainable design. With a strong focus on preserving cultural heritage, Michael seamlessly integrates historical elements into contemporary projects. His work is characterized by meticulous attention to detail, creative problem-solving, and a commitment to sustainability.Notes & Additional CreditsDesign Team: Michael Karnet (Lead Architect), Vojtch Kram, Filip Rajman (Interiors), Ji Luk (Concept Design & Visualizations)Engineering: Martinice GroupClient: Vclav and MarieUsable Floor Area: 287 mPlot Size: 1001 m

An international contest is being held to reconstruct the war-damaged State Tax University (STU) in Irpin, Ukraine (Deadline: 1 February)The competition organised by STU in partnership with the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine and Irpin City Council seeks innovative, bright, and comfortable proposals to redesign the universitys main campus which was destroyed at the start of Russias invasion in 2022.The call for concepts aims to identify a range of innovative solutions to create a new dream campus for STU which is located in the suburb of Irpin on the north-west fringes of the Kyiv where heavy fighting took place in the opening weeks of the conflict.Competition: State Tax University, UkraineAccording to the brief: STU and its partners announce an Open Competition for the best architectural solution for the design of the main campus building of the Irpin University (or State Tax University), which was almost completely destroyed in the first days of the Russian invasion in 2022.We welcome participants from all over the world! Participation is completely free of charge and is open to all design bureaus, architectural firms and individual architects from every corner of the globe.We believe that opening this competition internationally will allow a truly multicultural exchange of ideas in the field of architecture and design. Whether you are an established firm or a solo architect, this competition provides an excellent opportunity to showcase your talent on a global stage.The Russian invasion of Ukraine started more than two years ago on 24 February 2022 and has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, the displacement of millions of people and the destruction of large areas of the country.The latest contest comes just three months after the Norman Foster Foundation launched an open international contest to reimagine Freedom Square in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The foundation announced the winner of a separate contest to rebuild housing and public spaces in the city in November.Competition: State Tax University, UkraineThe competition invites architects and individuals from around the world to draw up concepts to renew the historic educational building which is currently partially destroyed and open to the elements.Judges will include Wendy Hillis; Assistant Vice Chancellor & Campus Architect at UC Berkeley; Antonina Kaplya, Architect & Founder at TSEH Architectural Group; SergiiMarchenko, Ukraines Minister of Finance; and Steve Wiesenthal, Campus Environments Principal Architect at Studio Gang.The overall winner of the competition due to be announced in April will be invited to proceed to the next stage and to participate in designing the full project documentation for the reconstruction of the campus.How to applyDeadline: 1 February 2025Competition funding source: Not suppliedProject funding source: Not suppliedOwner of site(s): Not suppliedContact details: 11.02@dpu.edu.uaVisit the https://competition.dpu.edu.ua/